CHAR-KOOSTA
Newspaper of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation
VOLUME 14 NUMBER 1
MONTH OF THE BITTERROOT
MAY 14, 1!
Blue Bay an exclusive Tribal area? Committee seeks ideas
After too many years of non-Tribal control, the Blue Bay Resort is back in Tribal hands
The resort, which lies on 27.4 acres on the east shore of Flathead Lake was first leased to Tribal member Henry Courvflle in 1957. Courville had extensive remodeling done and converted what began to be a lodge into a "resort", which was
The nam* Char-Koosta is derived from Chief Charlo's and Chief Koostatah's names. They war* the Tribes' last traditional chief*.
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predicted then to be a great moneymaker for the Tribes. A 1957 Char-Koosta read,"... This plan will not only provide the recreational area.. but also a splendid example of what can be gained by coupling Indian resources with equally valuable natural resources.'' It went on to say,"... The Tribal Council is looking forward to a happy combination of community service and added income to the Tribes."
In July, 1957, it was opened with accommodations for swimming fishing, camping and picnicking. It also had a small supplies store and a restaurant
What happened to the BIG moneymaker? Well, no person who has leased the area has been successful, according to Jim Steele Blue Bay Committee chairman.
The lease terms were more or less written without the Tribes in mind, as well The original lease was over $5,000. Since then, due to past mismanagement and undue political influence the operation has become a money-loser, according to Steele
The blame for that mismanagement is said to belong to the BIA, which hasn't done a very good job at ensuring that the various managers of the resort complied
with the terms of their leases.
Steele added that all of the previous leases were written in the late '50s without the management expertise available today to the Tribes and the Bureau.
A resolution modifying the FY-85 Tribal budget to allow the buy-out of the resort's lease was passed by the Tribal Council unanimously on March 15, following a lot of work by the committee The buy-out price was $25,000.
Now that the Tribes have regained control of the resort area, the committee plans to retain a portion as a resort, while setting aside part as a guaranteed-access area for Tribal members where youth and cultural activities can be enjoyed.
"The committee and the Tribal Council are currently evaluating the use of the resort and lands," Steele said, and plan to invite the membership's suggestions by way of a questionaire in the May 28 Char-Koosta
"For this summer season only, the Tribes will be soliciting bids from persons to manage the property," he said. "Any inquiries relating to summer management bids should be directed to the Tribal Realty Office, which will pro-(Concludes on page two)
New petition surfaces calling for smaller Council
If you haven't already been you soon may be asked to sign a new petition that requests that the Council be reduced from ten members to five and that none of them be allowed to hold any other job with the Tribes so as to reduce the risk of conflicts of interest arising
Tribal officials aren't sure about who's circulating the document, but based on its language and misspelled words, some say they have a pretty good idea about who its author is No one will remark on its legality until it's formally submitted for action